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TiVo extends patent deal with Shaw in Canada

The new agreement covers the continued use of TiVo's i-Guide interactive program guide. (TiVo)

TiVo has entered into a multiyear extension of its agreement with Canadian operator Shaw Communications for TiVo’s i-Guide and its intellectual property license.

The company said that Shaw expanded its Rovi patent portfolio IP license deal to also cover the TiVo patent portfolio.

“Extending our agreement with Shaw Communications underscores the benefits of TiVo’s advanced interactive program guide (IPG) and demonstrates the value of our IP and technology,” said Matt Milne, chief revenue officer at TiVo, in a statement. “With these offerings, Shaw Communications can continue to deliver captivating entertainment discovery experiences to its customers.”

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Shaw Communications will now have broader access to TiVo’s IP offerings for use across all platforms including BlueSky TV.

“We’re happy to renew our agreements with TiVo, which reinforces our commitment to providing advanced entertainment offerings to our customers across Canada,” said Jay Mehr, president of Shaw Communications, in a statement.

The new deal with Shaw comes as TiVo continues its legal fight in the U.S. with Comcast over allegations of patent infringement. Last month, TiVo claimed another small patent infringement victory against Comcast thanks to a favorable determination at the International Trade Commission (ITC). Administrative Law Judge MaryJoan McNamara said that Comcast’s X1 pay TV platform infringes on a TiVo patent covering search functions.

Comcast shrugged off the decision.

“We view today’s initial determination to be a victory for Comcast because the administrative law judge found no violation as to two of the three patents addressed,” Comcast said in a statement. “We look forward to the full Commission’s review of the one remaining patent later this year, but we are confident, regardless, this ruling will not disrupt our service to our customers. Rovi also was unsuccessful on five other patents that it had previously withdrawn from this case. We will continue to resist Rovi’s efforts to force Comcast and our customers to make unreasonable payments for aging and obsolete patents.”

TiVo recently appointed a new CEO: Dave Shull, who most recently served as CEO of The Weather Channel. The company also slightly updated its financial forecasts with more favorable expected results for fiscal 2019. The company now expects revenue of $644 million to $660 million, up from the previous range of $640 million to $654 million, and a GAAP loss before taxes of $72 million to $80 million, lowered from the previous range of a GAAP loss before taxes of $75 million to $87 million. Additionally, the company now expects Adjusted EBITDA of $175 million to $185 million, up from the previous range of $172 million to $178 million.